410 
PURPLE MARTIN. 
the female is laying, and before she commences incubation, they 
are both from home the greater part of the day. When the fe- 
male is sitting she is frequently visited by the male, who also 
occupies her place while she takes a short recreation abroad. 
He also often passes a quarter of an hour in the apartment be- 
beside her, and has become quite domesticated since her con- 
finement. He sits on the outside dressing and arranging his 
plumage, occasionally passing to the door of the apartment as 
if to inquire how she does. His notes at this time seem to have 
assumed a peculiar softness, and his gratulations are expressive 
of much tenderness. Conjugal fidelity, even where there is a 
number together, seems to be faithfully preserved by these birds. 
On the twenty-fifth of May a male and female Martin took pos- 
session of a box in Mr. Bartram’s garden. A day or two after, 
a second female made her appearance, and staid for several days; 
but from the cold reception she met with, being frequently 
beat off by the male, she finally abandoned the place, and set olT, 
no doubt to seek for a more sociable companion. 
The Purple Martin, like his half-cousin the King-bird, is the 
terror of Crows, Hawks, and Eagles. The.se he attacks when- 
ever they make their appearance, and with such vigour and ra- 
pidity, that they instantly have recourse to flight. So well 
known is this to the lesser birds and to the domestic poultry, 
that as soon as the)'^ hear the Martin’s voice, engaged in fight, 
all is alarm and consternation. To observe with what spirit and 
audacity this bird dives and sweeps upon and around the Hawk 
or the Eagle is astonishing. He also bestows an occasional bas- 
tinading on the King-bird when he finds him too near his pre- 
mises; though he will at any time instantly cooperate with him 
in attacking the common enemy. 
The Martin diflers from all the rest of our swallows in the 
particular prey which he selects. Wasps, bees, large beetles, 
particularly those called by the boys goldsmiths, seem his fa- 
vourite game. I have taken four of these large beetles from the 
stomach of a Purple Martin, each of which seemed entire and 
even unbruised. 
